Crime in Skelmersdale
Recorded crime in Skelmersdale is 1.7 times the West Lancashire average and 1.1 times the England and Wales average. It is about the same as 5 years ago. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
Within 1.5 km of the centre of Skelmersdale: about 20,305 residents in 22 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 3/10Above average crime
- Living
- 6.6/10Good
- 5-year change
- +1%more crimes
- vs the council
- 1.7×the West Lancashire average
Neighbourhoods by Safety
Within 1.5 km of the centre of Skelmersdale.
Crime over 5 years
About the same as 5 years ago Recorded crimes within 1.5 km of Skelmersdale, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 1.7× the West Lancashire average (1.1× the England and Wales average). 79 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 69% of the harm here
- Burglary: 13% of the harm here
- Robbery: 5% of the harm here
"Violence and sexual offences" is 69% of the harm here. It is a broad police category: most of these crimes are assaults without injury, harassment and threats, often indoors between people who know each other, and only a small part are sexual or serious violent offences. Police data does not say which, so each one is weighted at the England and Wales average for the category, which can overstate a quiet residential area.
Anti-social behaviour: 38 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.
Crime by type
Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents per year, most serious first, not counting anti-social behaviour.
| Type | Per 1,000 a year |
|---|---|
| Robbery | 0.8 |
| Burglary | 4.6 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 38.2 |
| Drugs | 2.1 |
| Possession of weapons | 1.1 |
| Other crime | 2.0 |
| Other theft | 5.8 |
| Theft from the person | 0.3 |
| Vehicle crime | 4.1 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 10.8 |
| Public order | 4.9 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.7 |
| Shoplifting | 3.2 |
Postcode districts in Skelmersdale
Nearby towns
Council: West Lancashire
Questions about crime in Skelmersdale
- Is Skelmersdale a safe place to live?
- Skelmersdale scores 3 out of 10 for safety (above average crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Crime severity is 1.7 times the West Lancashire average.
- Is crime going up or down in Skelmersdale?
- About the same as 5 years ago: 1,655 recorded crimes a year then, 1,664 now.
- What is the most common crime in Skelmersdale?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 38 per 1,000 residents a year.
- How does crime in Skelmersdale compare with West Lancashire?
- Crime severity in Skelmersdale is 1.7 times the West Lancashire average.